February 25, 2011.
ARTHUR WHITE LETTER TO MADELINE WATERFIELD WATERMAN
Comment: Amber Woodward - This letter is in response to the death of Annie Simpson Waterfield, 1875-1954 wife of Levy Norris Waterfield. My Grandmother (Madeline V, Waterfield Waterman) wrote him to tell him of Annie's passing. This is his response letter. He also mentions Mr. and Mrs. Simpson. They are Albert J. Simpson 1837-1880 and Sarah Frances Capps 1848-1880.
Los Angeles, California
Feb. 7, 55
Dear Madeline: I certainly appreciate your letter about Annie. although
it made me sad to hear of her death. when I was at Knotts Island last
time, I hadn't seen Annie since about 1898 or 99 and I went back to the
Neck just to see the old place where my grandfather lived, and who
should I see but Annie. I knew her at once and I said "why it's Annie
Simpson" but it being so many long years she just couldn't guess who I
was, and when Lee came home there was plenty more things and events
that he remembered that we didn't have time to finish all we wanted to
say, so I had to go back. it was a great pleasure [to] me because they
knowing all my folks they had lots of information that I had never
heard for forgotton.
When I was a very small boy at Wash Woods, Annie used to come over and
stay with us often and I can remember her carrying me around in her
arms. you know that has been some time ago as I am almost 69, will be
this year. The Neck is one of my frist memories because I used to go
there and stay a week or two with Grandma and Grandpa. and in fancy I
can still hear the old Civil war songs he used to sing me while he
rocked me in his Lap. and the stories he told me are still fresh in my
mind. I often think of one especially. During the War the Union
soldiers made a raid on Knotts Island and took all the live Stock and
anything else they wanted. my Grandmother had some Gold in the house.
before the Soldiers arrived she buried it under the Apple tree, and
after they had caught all the chickens and turkeys and rounded up the
cattle, it being a very hot day, they got under the apple tree to cool
off, while the family in the house, badly frightened of course they
take a sly peek through the window to see if they would notice the
fresh dirt and start digging, but as the story went, Grandma saved her
gold, or at least I hope she did. Mr. Albert Simpson, Annie's father
and mother (I don't remember her first name) lived on the next farm. I
remember them very well.
Those old times seem like a dream now. One of the great events we Kids
at Wash Woods looked forward to was to sail over to the South End to
see the Comet arrive at the Pier to unload freight. she looked awfully
big to we Kids, and while getting tied up, there was plenty of noise
going on, steam hissing and squirting, water churning and running off
the drive wheels, men yelling to get the tie-ropes fastened, boxes and
barrells being rolled off. I have never seen anything so exciting
since. and when she pulled away, they would say "she was bound for
Vanslakes and Narrow Shore" in my imagination they were in a very
remote part of the World, and what was there, what would it look like?
even the names had magic in the sound. so about forty or fifty years
later I drove to narrow shore and van Slakes, nothing was there but
some of the old and rotten stakes of the Wharf where the Comet stopped.
and so the wonder wonder land of dreams vanished.
I hope I haven't bored you with all this stuff, Madeline, but when I
began to write, it all came back to me and I couldn't resist putting it
down. and some day I will have to tell you about the Protracted
meetings at the Churches on Knotts Island, with dinners on the Ground.
and singing like I've never heard before or since. all led by John
Taylor and his Tuning Fork. People came from great distances to enjoy
it all. as I look back on it all, it was life at it's best and people
were happy. anyway, Madeline, when I meet you I will have lots more to
tell you, maybe you have heard it many times, but it's fun to talk, and
even though I have been away from Knotts Island for a long time, my
roots are still there. when I go back I shall look forward to meeting
you and your husband, I'm sure we would find plenty to talk about.
Thank you again for your nice letter, and I hope you might find some
time to do it again.
February 25, 2011. Comment Brenda Twiford: Arthur James
White, Born October 29, 1887 and Died Sept 1963.
He was the son of Caleb Crocker White, he was the son of James A. White
and
he was the son of 4 generations of Henry White's, then Soloman White
and
then Patrick White.
Arthur's mother was Mary Elizabeth Williams and her mother was Rhoda
Dudley.
His grandmother on his father side was Elizabeth "Betsy" White.
Annie Loraine Simpson, daughter of Albert J. Simpson and Sarah Frances
Capps, Born Oct 29, 1875 and died Dec 25, 1954.
Annie married Levy Norris Waterfield on Dec 17, 1905.
A protracted meeting was a revival meeting.
February 25, 2011. Comment Melinda Lukei: John Taylor was a singing teacher and lead the singing at the Methodist church. I am pretty sure that Henry Ansell talks about him in his book on Knotts Island.